Congressman John D. Dingell

April 30, 2008

Washington, DC - Tomorrow, May 1, 2008, marks the fifth anniversary of President Bush’s speech abroad the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, while the aircraft carrier was returning from combat operations in the Persian Gulf.  The President spoke under a banner that read “Mission Accomplished”.  Since that speech, nearly 3,900 Americans have died in combat in Iraq – with 46 American troops dying in April 2008 alone.  Conditions on the ground in Iraq have been violent and unstable, and the new Iraqi government has made little progress in gaining control over the situation. Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks about this troubling anniversary:

“That beautifully choreographed scene abroad an aircraft carrier five years ago was perhaps the last well-planned and well-executed event by the Bush Administration. We know that even with the tremendous efforts of our troops, we are mired down in a war with no signs of resolution.  I have introduced a bill that would require the President to remove troops from Iraq by January 20, 2009.  Perhaps consideration of such a bill would illicit some honest answers from this President about how much longer we will be in Iraq, instead of the false promises and phony proclamations we’ve become so accustomed to since the President spoke to us from that aircraft carrier.

“Not only was the mission not accomplished, but after five years it’s still not clear what the mission is.”